http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/259549/Fabricio-Coloccini-s-talking-a-good-game?
FABRICIO COLOCCINI’s £85,000-a-week wages should just about cover the extra English language lessons he is planning now that he has been made Newcastle United’s new skipper.
In any language Fabricio Coloccini’s colossal wages – he was easily the best paid player in the Championship two seasons ago – are controversial, but his popularity with Newcastle fans is not remotely in doubt.
His reputation soared last season and with Kevin Nolan having departed for West Ham United earlier this summer the Argentine centre-half was the obvious choice for the armband, even though he insists the honour came as a shock.
“The club has a lot of leaders and I am sure the manager could have chosen any of them to be captain,” he said.
“That’s why it is a surprise he picked me, but I’m really happy to have been chosen.
“This is the first time I have ever been a captain. I spoke with my English teacher last week because I have to start my lessons again. I left my course last year because my English had improved to a certain level, but now I am the captain, I think it needs to be even better.
“It is my responsibility to improve. Now I am the captain I will have a lot more speaking to do and I want to be able to do that properly.”
Captain Coloccini, who arrived at St James’ Park three years ago from Deportivo La Coruna for £10.3million, delivered a fairly modest return in his first season but has blossomed in the last two campaigns – with the result that manager Alan Pardew’s choice was a relatively straightforward one.
Coloccini said: “In Spain the captain is normally the player who has been at the club for the most years. That is how most Spanish clubs choose their captain.
“Being a captain in England is different. It is a much bigger responsibility and I am ready for that. The fans and the press give the captain more importance and you are seen as much more of a figurehead.”
The FA, meanwhile, will today investigate the appalling crowd disturbances which marred a pre-season friendly at Darlington on Friday. An FA spokesman said: “We will be contacting both clubs, the police and other officials before deciding what action, if any, to take.”
The FA have been impressed with the club’s total condemnation of Friday’s events, which saw hundreds of fans invade the pitch and several skirmishes break out.
